A MORAL AND SATIRICAL SONGS. MONG all nations in which poetry has been cultivated, song writers have ever found abundance of exercise in their vocation in adapting to music the expression of moral sentiment, or in making the satire of manners more agreeable, more popular, and more permanently useful, by the union of poetry and music. Some of the most beautiful songs in the English language belong to this class, and there has been no song-writer worthy of the name who has not occasionally forsaken the amatory, convivial, or patriotic departments of his art-long erroneously considered by false critics to be the only legitimate spheres of song-to praise virtue, to condemn vice, to hold folly up to ridicule, and to depict the good or ill manners of society. The songs of this description are exceedingly numerous, and are of every degree of merit and demerit, ranging from the broadest comedy to the seriousness of the sermon, and even of the hymn. The vanity of human life; the instability of greatness; the charms of friend ship; the pleasures of temperance; the blessings of a contented mind; the consolations of old age, and a thousand similar topics, are true sources of inspiration for the lyrist; while subjects of more public interest-the growth or decay of national virtue, and the condition, hopes, aspirations, and fears of the people in general, or of large and important sections of them, afford in like manner abundant opportunities for the moral or satirical song writer. "Poets," as Mr. Emerson finely and truly says, should be lawgivers that is, the boldest lyric inspiration should not chide or insult, but should commence and lead the civil code and the days work." 66 66 It was in reference to this class of songs that Fletcher, of Saltoun, uttered the famous dictum—not his own - on the importance of song-writing. In his "Account of a conversation concerning the right regulation of Governments for the common good of mankind," he complains that "the poorer sort of both sexes are daily tempted to all manner of wickedness by infamous ballads sung in every corner of the streets. I knew," he adds, a very wise man that believed if a man were permitted to make all the ballads, he need not care who should make the laws of a nation. And we find that most of the ancient legislators thought they could not well reform the manners of any city without the help of a lyric, and sometimes of a dramatic poet." The extension of education and the triumphs of the printing press have rendered the labours of the moral and satirical song writers of less value than in the time of the ancient legislators, or than in those times, comparatively recent, when Fletcher of Saltoun wrote; but even in our day, a false error may be propped up by a song, and a great truth advanced by the same agency. So that the dictum still retains a portion of its ancient value. The moral and satirical songs are here included together; for if satire be not moral it is an abuse; and the lessons of morality have often a better chance of being effective, if sharpened by judicious satire. There are vast numbers of political songs and ballads of this class, which have been produced from the days of the civil wars to our own, which would alone fill many interesting volumes- valuable for the light they would throw upon the contemporary history of the period at which they were issued, or for their description of costume or of manners. Some of the best and more permanently pleasing of the ancient compositions of this class are here selected, together with a few of the modern songs, which have become popular. WOMEN ARE BEST WHEN THEY ARE AT REST. WOMEN are best when they are at rest; By their good will they are never still, If the weather is bad, all day they gad, And all their gay gear they ruin or near: Then must they chat of this and that; When cometh the night, it is never right, If husbands be weary, they are so merry, Then can they chide, while at their side, 66 Why, how you snore! go lie on the floor." So women are best when they are at rest, If you can catch them still; Cross them, they chide, and are worse, I have tried, Give them their way, they still say, nay, And change their mind with a trice; Let them alone, or you will own That mine was good advice. THE CUCKOO'S SONG. Anonymous. Originally printed in 1566. FULL merrily sings the cuckoo Your wives you well should look to, Full nine in ten Must be content to wear the horn. Full merrily sings the cuckoo Your wives you well should look to, But now and then Can 'scape to bear the horn away. Full merrily sings the cuckoo Your wives you well should look to, When married men Must watch the hen, Or some strange fox will steal her soon. Full merrily sings the cuckoo Upon the alder tree; Your wives you well should look to, Must bid good den To such as horns to them do give. Full merrily sings the cuckoo Upon the aspen tree; Your wives you well should look to, If you take advice of me. Cuckoo! Cuckoo! alack the night Again and again Must hide their horns in their despite. The reader will notice the resemblance between this song and the following by by Shakespeare "When Daisies Pied," &c. Probably Shakspeare was indebted to the anonymous author for the idea. WHEN DAISIES PIED. WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE. WHEN daisies pied, and violets blue, Do paint the meadows with delight: Cuckoo! cuckoo! O word of fear, When shepherds pipe on oaten straws, And merry larks are ploughmen's clocks: And maidens bleach their summer smocks. Mocks married men for thus sings he :- Cuckoo cuckoo ! O word of fear, THE CHARACTER OF A MARRIED LIFE. SIR HENRY WOOTTON. How happy is he born and taught, That serveth not another's will; And simple thought your honest thought, And simple truth his utmost skill. |